Leg pain? Poor blood flow may be to blame

As you age, plaque can accumulate in the arteries of your legs, potentially causing peripheral artery disease (PAD). The power to prevent it rests largely in your hands.

For the past several weeks, you’ve noticed something odd: When you climb the stairs to your home or office, or stroll to the mailbox — just about any time you walk — you develop burning pain in your buttocks or legs. Sit down, and the discomfort improves drastically. The lower-limb aches are just a part of getting older, right? Not necessarily.

Your symptoms are red flags for PAD, a condition that primarily affects the arteries of the legs and occurs when too much plaque restricts or halts blood flow to them. You can’t stop plaque from building up in your arteries as you age — it happens to everyone — but you can do a lot to minimize it and prevent or control PAD at the same time. When your disease and symptoms are severe enough, you may need surgical intervention such as angioplasty, stenting or bypass surgery. Screening for PAD involves a simple non-invasive outpatient test called a Doppler. Talk to your physician to determine if this test is appropriate for you.

Targeting risk factors

Preventing PAD may be your goal, but if you follow these steps, your whole body will benefit.

1. If you smoke, work with your primary care physician to craft a plan to quit: Smoking increases your likelihood of developing PAD more than any other factor.

2. Be sure you’re properly managing long-term health problems, such as diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

3. Follow the playbook for living a heart-healthy life: Eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean meats, and exercise regularly.

Vascular surgery is available in Galesburg

Surgical treatment of PAD is available right here in Galesburg. Dr. Mark Davis, a board-certified, Galesburg-based general surgeon, performs minimally invasive procedures involving balloons, stents and atherectomy devices to open your blocked vessels. He also performs bypass surgery in which he grafts a bypass using a vessel from another part of the body to allow blood flow around the blocked or narrowed artery.

Learn more about PAD at a Lunch and Learn at noon on Friday, Sept. 29, with Dr. Davis. This event is free to anyone who has registered at (309) 345-4563. To learn more about surgical services available in Galesburg, visit CottageHospital.com and click on “Services.”

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